Former IM World Champion Chelsea Sodaro is set to headline the women’s professional field at next Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Tasmania. Sodaro made global headlines in October 2022 when she stormed to victory at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. The American was the first debutant since 2007 to claim the crown and she then went on to finish sixth at the 2023 World Championship.
The 34-year-old will race for the first time professionally in Australia when she lines up for Ironman 70.3 Tasmania on Sunday 4 February. “I’m feeling well, I’m enjoying my time in this hemisphere and it will be great to take on the hills of Hobart soon,” said Sodaro. “This will be my first time in Tasmania, I hear that it’s a stunning part of the world.”
With the northern hemisphere still in the middle of winter Sodaro made the decision to head south to kick off 2023 and has been in New Zealand for the last few weeks.
“I wanted to get back to racing earlier this season and New Zealand and Australia provided that opportunity,” she said. “I love the triathlon community and I expect Ironman 70.3 Tasmania to be a super fun event. I’m looking to test myself against awesome competition and see where I’m at this early in the season.”
Athletes racing at Ironman 70.3 Tasmania will complete a 1.9km swim course in the Derwent River that hugs the historic Battery Point before embarking on a 90km ride with the most vertical gain of any IM 70.3 bike course in Oceania. The three lap 21.1km run will follow the intercity cycleway out past the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and Princes Wharf No.1 will be the final destination, the world-famous red carpet at the Ironman 70.3 finish line.
